Three Tennessee Men Plead Guilty to Killing During Home-Invasion Robbery

Three Clarksville, Tennessee, men pleaded guilty to using a firearm to kill during a home-invasion robbery.  Assistant Attorney General Leslie R. Caldwell of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division and U.S. Attorney David Rivera of the Middle District of Tennessee made the announcement.

Cornell Oliver, 23, and Blake Wright, 25, pleaded guilty today before Chief U.S. District Judge Kevin H. Sharp to use of a firearm in a crime of violence resulting in death.  Jerry Dinkins, 26, pleaded guilty on June 26, 2015, to the same offense.  Wright and Oliver will be sentenced on Nov. 10, 2015, and Dinkins will be sentenced on Oct. 23, 2015.

According to the plea agreements, on Oct. 27, 2010, Oliver, Dinkins and Wright participated in a home-invasion robbery at a crack house in Clarksville, and that the defendants targeted the house and the victim Raymond Caston, aka Black, because he was known to cook and sell substantial amounts of crack cocaine at the house and to have large amounts of cash.

The plea agreements provide that, when the defendants arrived at the house, one of the defendants kicked open the door.  At the time, at least eight people were inside the house.  The defendants then entered and demanded money and drugs from Caston.  One of the defendants proceeded to hit Caston with a gun.  After Caston indicated that he did not have money or drugs, the defendants forced Caston outside.  People inside the house then heard multiple gunshots, but did not see which of the defendants actually fired shots.  The defendants then fled, and Caston, who had been shot three times, was pronounced dead at the scene.

DNA and other physical and forensic evidence collected at the scene and eyewitness accounts also connected the defendants to the murder.

The case was investigated by Clarksville Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration.  The case is being prosecuted by Trial Attorney Laura Gwinn of the Criminal Division’s Organized Crime and Gang Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lynne T. Ingram of the Middle District of Tennessee.

Cheryl Steward Pleads Guilty to Charges Related to Murder of Captain Dennis Cagle

JACKSON, TN—Cheryl Freeman Steward, age 52, of Henderson, Tennessee, pled guilty today to charges related to the murder of Captain Dennis Cagle. Freeman pled guilty to two counts of attempted robbery affecting commerce, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951, and a being convicted felon that was prohibited from possessing a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(a)(6) and 924(a)(2) of the superseding indictment, announced Edward L. Stanton III, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.

The charges stem from the December 10, 2009, attempted robbery of the Save-A-Lot grocery store in Henderson, Tennessee committed by Cheryl Steward’s husband, Ricky Stewart. Ricky Stewart fired upon officers who responded to the robbery in progress, including Henderson Police Captain Dennis Cagle, who later succumbed to the injuries he received from a gunshot wound. Cheryl Steward will be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen on November 30, 2012 at 1:30 p.m.

The case was investigated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Henderson Police Department, and the Chester County Sheriff’s Office. District Attorney General Jerry Woodall and Assistant District Attorney Jody Pickens served as special counsel in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Victor L. Ivy prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

Memphis Man Pleads Guilty to Sex Trafficking

MEMPHIS, TN—Marvell Antonio Culp, Jr., age 24, of Memphis, Tennessee, pled guilty to sex trafficking of children by force, fraud, or coercion, in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1591, announced Edward L. Stanton III, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee, and Aaron T. Ford, Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

In the summer of 2011, Marvell Antonio Culp, Jr. met a young female through social networking. The woman, who was living in Mississippi, came to Memphis at Culp’s urging, believing she was in a romantic relationship with Culp. Instead, Culp used threats and physical force to cause the young woman to engage in prostitution. Culp used a website to promote her availability, and also made her walk a known street of prostitution in Memphis to solicit business. In addition, Culp used the woman in efforts to recruit other females for his scheme. Culp faces a sentence of 15 years to life in prison. Sentencing is set for December 19, 2012.

“The cold and calculated manner in which Marvell Antonio Culp, Jr. lured and forced an unsuspecting teen victim into a life of prostitution was nothing less than sinister. As a result of this prosecution by our district’s Civil Rights Unit, Culp now faces 15 years to life in prison,” said United States Attorney Edward L. Stanton III. “Working with our law enforcement partners, we will remain relentless in protecting our most vulnerable citizens—our children—from those individuals who engage in the unconscionable act of sex trafficking.”

“The FBI has made it a priority to investigate those who exploit children and young women and prey on them, seeking to line their pockets by trafficking them for their bodies,” said Aaron T. Ford, Special Agent in Charge of the Memphis Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. “We will continue to diligently work with our law enforcement partners to build cases against those who threaten, manipulate and harm our youth in this modern form of slavery.”

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Steve Parker and Debra Ireland and Trial Attorney Michael W. Grant of the Criminal Division’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS). The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation with assistance provided by the Memphis Police Department.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and CEOS, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals, who exploit children, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.projectsafechildhood.gov.

Cheryl Steward Pleads Guilty to Charges Related to Murder of Captain Dennis Cagle

Jackson, TN – Cheryl Freeman Steward, age 52, of Henderson, Tennessee, pled guilty today to charges related to the murder of Captain Dennis Cagle. Freeman pled guilty to two counts of attempted robbery affecting commerce, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1951, and a convicted felon that was prohibited from possessing a firearm, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(a)(6) and 924(a)(2) of the superseding indictment, announced Edward L. Stanton III, United States Attorney for the Western District of Tennessee.

The charges stem from the December 10, 2009, attempted robbery of the Save-A-Lot grocery store in Henderson, Tennessee committed by Cheryl Steward's husband Ricky Stewart. Ricky Stewart fired upon officers who responded to the robbery in progress, including Henderson Police Captain Dennis Cagle, who later succumbed to the injuries he received from a gunshot wound. Cheryl Steward will be sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge J. Daniel Breen on November 30, 2012 at 1:30 p.m.

The case was investigated by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the ATF, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Henderson Police Department and the Chester County Sheriff's Office. District Attorney General Jerry Woodall and Assistant District Attorney Jody Pickens served as special counsel in this case. Assistant United States Attorney Victor L. Ivy prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.